Have been wanting to put a post about the Symonds-Monkey affair for some time. But before I could, my namesake Mukul has put a very strong post about it.
Some further comments about entire controversy:
1) If it were proved that Bhajji did call Symonds a monkey, he should have been banned. The reason being that this was an issue already raised by the cry-baby Symonds in India and some supporters were kicked out of stadiums as a result. You cannot have one rule for the supporters and another one for the players. (It is entirely another matter that I believe that if the cry-baby hadn't cribbed in India, there would not have been an issue at all)
2) The threatening to leave the tour part was acceptable. But the condition should have been "if the final verdict were arrived at without any proof" and not "if Bhajji is found guilty". The latter stance clearly amounted to holding a gun to ICC's head.
3) How is Symonds able to get away scot free? Even Marco Materazzi got a ban for having been head-butted. (Actually bad comparison, as FIFA is just marginally more competent than the totally incompetent ICC). But it was Symonds who started the abuse and so should have been punished.
Given the form of the Bhajji and Symonds, a chess level sacrifice, with Symonds also getting banned would also not have been that bad strategically. (Last year's thulping in the CB Series finals and the Chappell-Hadlee trophy happened in Symonds' absence)
4) I am unable to understand why the Aussie media is cribbing over the verdict? There was no proof that Bhajji called Symonds a monkey. Period. And if Bhajji is being punished for "Teri Maaki", then Hogg should have also been punished for "bastard". Hats off to Kumble for showing some restraint in this.
5) BCCI is incompetent. ICC is even more.
Awesome series though. If only we weren't Bucknored and it hadn't rained in Chennai in 2004, we would still be holding the Border-Gavaskar trophy.
About Me
- Vetty Max
- "I write primarily for myself. And I write about what interests me; that is all." These words of RK Narayan aptly describe my blogging endeavours.
3 comments:
Beautiful excerpt from that judgment:
[14] Mr Symonds appears to be saying that he finds it unacceptable that an opponent makes a gesture that recognises the skill of one of his own team mates. In the transcript he stated:
“MR MANOHAR: You had any objection to that patting on the back?
MR SYMONDS: Did I have an objection to it – my objection was that a test match is no place to be friendly with an opposition player, is my objection.”
If that is his view I hope it is not one shared by all international cricketers. It wouldbe a sad day for cricket if it is.
Yeah I agree with your points. 'Monkey' has become a much more serious insult here in the UK, after all the football hooligans chanting. So I think its plausible to see how Symonds may have been hurt by the 'alleged' comments even if it is not an offensive term in India. However, if you are able to give it then i suupose you should be able to take it in some respects. On a slightly different note, there is no doubt that series should have ended 1-1 at the very worst for India and that is being generous!
the australians are so used to sledging and getting away with it, now they're unable to digest the fact that there's someone capable of giving it back to them!
Nice post :)
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